Strap-fastener, &amp;c.



W. H. DAVIDSON.

STRAP FA$TBNER APPLICATION FILED, MAR. as, 1908.

Patented, Apr. 20, 19 09.

/NVENTOR m M W Arromvey qma K UNITED STATES [PATENT orrro.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STRAP-FASTENER, 8&0.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DAVID- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inStrap-Fasteners, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to strap-fasteners of that class which are to beused with, and on straps in strapping packets, trunks, boxes and suchlike, and which are adapted to secure, so far as may be possible, astrap placed around all the several sides of a packet, etc., againstaccidental displacement, and, preferably, also to secure it againstsurreptitious removal from its position around and hold upon the packet,etc. R

The principal ob'ect of this invention is to produce a fastener of theclass stated, which is simple in construction, easily manipulated, andcapable of permitting a strap to be most readily and in a continuouslength placed around all the several sides of a packet, etc.,

and for each section or portion of the strap so placed to be readilyengaged with the fastener, and engaged, made secure against accidentaldetachment, as also, preferably, secure against surreptitious removalfrom the fastener and from the packet, etc., and in all respects and sofar as may be practicable to obtain an absolute secure fastening andholding of the strap on the packet, etc. and one such, that the strapcan only be released by a proper manipulation of it and of the fastener,or by a severing either of the strap or fastener.

The object above stated is most successfully and practically secured bya strap-fastener of this invention, and which is to be now described, indetail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of a packet and of astrap encircling it on all of its several sides, and a fastener of thisinvention securing said strap, in its soencircling position, to thepacket. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastener and at its face or sidewhich is outermost when the fastener is in use. C Fig. 3 is a crosssection on dotted line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section on dottedline 44, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, but in detail,.as will hereinafter appear. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively plan andside views of the fastener, and of means for securing its several parts7 Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,766.

Patented April 20, 1909.

together and to the strapengaged therewith. Fig. 8 is a plan view of thefastener on a reduced scale from that of the preceding figures, andillustrating a modification thereof as hereinafter appears.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, A is a packet of rectangular shape on all itsseveral sides, and B is a strap encircling all of said several sides andsecured in such position by means of a fastener common to the several sorunning lengths or sections of said strap.

The fastener, in accordance with the main feature of this invention,consists, essentially, of a skeleton or primary-frame of metal, or othersuitable material, which is substantially flat on both its upper andlower sides, (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) and of a secondary plate orframe of metal, or other suitable material. This secondaryframe alongone edge is hinged to one edge of said primary-frame, and it is adaptedto be closed on and opened from the same (Figs. 2, 3, 4, .6, 7 and 8)and it and said primaryframe have means, hereinafter described,relatively constructed and adapted for cooperative action so as toenable said frames to be bound and secured together, when closed the oneupon the other, as before stated, and to be released when to be openedfrom each other.

The primary-frame, as particularly shown, Fig. 5, has, at one side, abar G which is preferably cylindrical and straight, and along its inneredge it has a rectangular opening or slot D. The primary-frame also hasalong two of its sides and each in continuation of an opposite end ofsaid bar C, two bars E and F, each of which, preferably, is curvilinearin outline from end to end, both on the inner and outer edges, (concaveon the inner and convex on the outer). Along the inner edge of each barE, F, there is an opening G and H,respectively. These two curvilinearbars E, F, at their respective ends the farther from the bar C, join andform the remaining side J of the frame, and the outer edge of this sideJ, from end to end, is, preferably, convex, and the inner edge of saidside J is concave from end to end and said side J is joined to the sideof the frame having the bar 0 and the slot D, by means of a centralpiece or bar K, which is at a right angle to said bar 0' and also hasits outer edges or and a more or less straight and parallel.

The central bar K has an elongated and l preferably, oval-shaped openingL, and this opening is substantially at the central portion of theprimary-frame taken as one whole, and its longer axis is substantiallyparallel to the straight edges a, a of the bar K.

The side-b ar 5 and 8, is in one piece with, or fixed in position as tothe other parts of said frame, and, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, it is aseparate piece from the rest of the frame, which at that side is open,and as a separate piece it is, at one end, held and hung on a fixedupward projecting pin M of, and located on the frame adjacent to itssidebar 0, and, at the other end, it has a slot N having an enlargementat one end, and all suitable for said pivoted sidebar, bysuch slot, tobe set over a fixed upward projecting headed and shouldered-pin O of theframe atits side J, (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7) and so, as is plain, theside-bar E of the primary-frame can be attached at its end having theslot N to the headed-pin O of the frame thus completing said frame andit can bedetached from said headed-pin and being then free can be swungaway from the other parts of the frame, (see Fig. 2, dotted lines,) allas and for the purposes as will hereinafter pp a The secondary-frameconsists of a plate P which along one of its sides has a tubular-hub Pand by this hub it is hung on afixed horizontal axle P which is locatedon the primary-frame at and along its side, and above the crossbar C,(Fig. 3), and thus the secondary-frame, by swinging it on said axle, can

be placed directly upon the primary-frame, (Figs. 2, 3, 4;, 6 and 7) andso put in position to cover the same, as for illustration, the centralbar K in whole and also the side-bars E and F and the side-bar J joiningthem as has been described, nearly for their full width, Figs. 2, 3, andOr as shown, Fig. 6, said secondary-frame maybe sized and shaped at itsouter edge so that when closed upon the primary-frame to cover said barsE, F, only in part. Further, the secondary-frame, preferably, isdish-shaped, as at P, Figs. 3 and 4, and again, preferably, its hub P,at its under portion andwhich is toward the primaryframe, has aneccentric periphery P", Fig. 3, so that as the secondary-frame is swungto close it, and it is in a closed position on the primary-frame, asdescribed, it will press and bind on the crossb ar C ofsaidprimary-frame, or on hatever may be about-said bar, as for instance, aportion of the strap B, as will hereinafter appear.

The means "for holding the secondary frame P in its position coveringthe primary frame, comprise, in substance, a buttone Q theelongated-opening L in the crossbar K of said primary-frame, and thussaid head properly placed can pass into and out through said opening L,an axial-pin R, to Whicl1,at'its inner end, said button-head is ofcorresponding shape and size to E of the primary-frame, Figs.

axially attached, and which, at its outer end is carried by and is freeto turn on said cover or secoirdary-frame P, and a radial arm S, Figs.6, 7 and 8 which, at one end, is attached to the outer end of saidaxial-pin it, or in place of said arm S, of a lock-inechain ism of anywell known and suitable kind may be used. if a lock-mechanisin. is used.it with the axial-pin ii are to be arranged within a boxing or casing l,in turn attached. to the under or inner side of the secoiuhtryframe P,and this boxing is to have a keyhole U for the insertion of the kc towork on the lock-mechanism, and through. it to turn said axial-pin it,and theretlu'ough to swing the button-head Q which. it carries, in theone instance, so as to unlock it, and when unlocked to have saidlmtton-hcad in proper position to pass through the elongated opening Lof the cross-bar hi of the primary-frame, and when locked to have saidbutton-head extending, by its longer axis, across said elongated opening.11 and in the direction of its shorter axis.

The arm S, preferably, is of sullicient length by its free end S to hearon the upper side of cross-bar C of the 1)riniary-frame when it is swungin the proper direction therefor, and that is, when it is swung so as tobring the button-head t), by its longer axis across the opening ii inthe direction of its shorter axis, and again to add eiliciency to thepressure of said arm S on said bar (i, said arm may be bent along itslength, Fig. 7, and further may have more or less rcsiliency.

in Fig. 8 the outer edge of the secondary 1 frame F, is shown as havingteeth V, and

said outer edge lies slightly within the inner edge of the side-bars Eand i of the primaryframe, wl'ien the frame P is closed, and again, thesecomlary-fraine P has a handle W for convenience in raising it from theprinmryframe.

In all forms of combination of parts and shape of the two frames, theprimary and the secondary, shown in the drawings and hereinbeforedescribed, the holding together of the two frames is secured by swinginthe bu tton-head Q so that it will be placed by its longer axis acrossthe openi ii of the central bar K of the primar "ame, and so that itwill then be or extend in the direction of the shorter axis of saidopening, and in this position of the buliton-heiul, as is obvious, it,the button-head, is necessarily engaged with and held against beingdisengaged from the primary-fran1e by the then overlap of the oppositeend-portions of the button-head and their bearing on the under side ofsaid central bar K. And in the making of the fastener described, itwould be and is well to have such button-head so shaped, or the underside of said central bar so shaped, or both so shaped, that when thebutton-head is swung to place it in engagement with the underside ofsaid bar and as the button-head passes into the position of suchengagement, there will be a more or less drawing of the secondary-frametoward the primary-frame, and thus a closer bind or hold secured of thesecondary-frame on the primary-frame or, with the strap engaged with thebars of the rimary-frame, as hereinafter explained, a c oser bind orhold thereof to and between the two frames.

In using the fastener described, first place the fastener on the packetin proper position,

for instance as shown, Fig.1, and if the bar E of the fastener is hungas shown, Figs. 2 and 6 more particularly, preferably release its endengaged with the headed-stud Q of the pri mary-frame, and swing it open.Now loop the strap, intermediate of its length, about the underside andinner edge of the bar E and extend it in opposite directions from saidbar, and if said bar E is a swinging one, and has been opened out as hasbeen explained, close it and engage it with the headed-stud Q. Now takethe portion of the strap which extends toward the fastener-frame, andpass it over the upper side of the end E, and from thence carry it overthe upper side of the packet and down and over the end of the packettoward the bar J, and thencealong' the under side of the packet, to andup and along the other end of, and over the top of the packet, and loopit over the upper side the round-bar C, and through the slot D inside ofand under said bar, and place the remaining free end of the so-loopedportion of the strap under the strap and between it and the upper sideof the packet, and which, preferably, fasten together these thensuperimposed layers of the strap, as for instance, by rivets, as shown,Fig. 3, or by a suitable strap-buckle, not shown. This completes thehandling or looping of one of the endportions of the strap, as it wasfirst placed on the bar F, as exp ained, about the packet andprimary-frame, but as will be well to here observe when the encirclingand looping of the other and as yet free end-portion of the strap aboutthe packet and the primaryframe and before the secondary-frame P isclosed on the primary-frame all as is to be now explained, the loopedand encircling end-portion of the strap as has been just described, isto be made taut about the acket and said frame in its said running.

ow take the remaining end-portion of the strap, leading loosely from thebar E and pass it over the top of the packet adjacent to said bar anddown and over the adjacent side and under the under side and up and overthe upper side of the packet and under and up through the slot Hadjacent to the inner edge of and over the top of the bar F, on which,draw-all the parts of the strap running about the packet and engagedwith the prigig mary-frame taut, and close the secondary frame P on theprimary-frame and secure it as has been ex lained, whereby as isevident, the strap in a-l directions of its running will be securelyconfined to and held on the fastener and to the packet and will be madesafe against accidental movement or disturbance from any strain whichmay come upon it in handling the packet.v

To practically release a strap fastened and held as has been explained,it is only necessary to unfasten the cap or cover P from the main frameby swinging its elongated button-head Q so that its longer axis will liealong the longer axis of the central opening L in the cross-piece K ofthe main frame.

' The holding of the strap engaged with the fastener, as has beenexplained, is by the confinement of the strap practically between theprimary-frame, and about the bars of which it was dis osed as stated,and the secondary-frame and this confinement is substantially the samein effect with all the forms of the primaryand secondary-frames whichare shown in the drawings and have been described, except, that it maybe said that an additional effect as to the confinement or engagement ofthe strap on and between the two frames is secured by the necessaryinterlock of the teeth of the secondary-frame P, Fig. 8, with the strap,as it, the frame P is pressed to its position of confinement on theprimary-frame.

If the swinging-arm S is adapted to have a pressing bearing on the strapat the upper side of the cross-bar C of the main-frame, obviously, thestrap at such point will be more closely confined to said bar, andfurther said arm will be safer against accidental displacement in thehandling of the packet, etc.

Arranging the bar E of the fastener for being opened out as has beenexplained is advantageous in that it enables the looping of the strapthereon to be more conveniently done, and avoids the necessity whichwould otherwise exist, if such bar was fixed and closed, of drawing thestrap lengthwise through the opening G of the fastener.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,

1. A fastener for straps, comprisingtwo frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and onall of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and the other, at oneside or edge, connected to said strap-receiving frame and adapted to beopened therefrom and closed in relation thereto, in combination withmeans on said frames relatively ada ted to cooperate to secure themtogether when closed as to each other, and to permit them to be openedfrom each other.

2. A-fastener for straps, comprising two frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and onall of which to loop or engage a strap therewith, and the other, at oneside or edge, connected to said strap-receiving frame and adapted to beopened therefrom and closed in relation thereto, in combination withmeans on said frame relatively adapted to cooperate to secure themtogether, when closed as to each other, and to permit them to be openedfrom each other, and means to operate said means. securing said frametogether.

3. A. fasten-er for straps, comprising two frames, one having, atseveral of its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, atand by all of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and the other,at one side or edge, connected to. said strap-receiving frame andadapted to be opened from and closed. upon its, said several side-bars,in combination with means on said frames relatively adapted to cooperateto secure them together when closed the one upon said side-bars of theothers, and to permit them to be opened from each other.

f. A fastener for straps, comprising two frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and byall of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and. the other, atone side or edge, connected to said strap-receiving frame and adapted tobe opened therefrom and closed in relation thereto, in combination withmeans on said frames, which consist of an elongated and turningmtton-head on one of said frames, and of an elongatedopening in theother of said frames, the same being relatively located as to each otherto permit said button-head to be passed in and out through said openingin closing and o enin the frames and assed in and through said openingto permit said buttonhead tobe then placed across and at its oppositeends engaged with the frame at opposite sides of its said opening.

5. A fastener for straps, comprising two frames one having, at severalof its opposite sides. or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and byall of which to loop and engage a strap ther with, and the other, at oneside or edge hinged to said strap-receiving frame, and adapted to beopened therefrom and closed; in relation thereto, in combination withmeans on said frame relatively adapted to cooperate to secure themtogether when closed as to each other, and to permit them to be openedfrom each other.

6. A fastener for straps, comprising two frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and byall of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and the other, at oneside or edge, connected to said strap-receiving frame and adapted to beopened therefrom and closed in relation thereto, in combination withmeans on said frames relatively adapted to cooperate to secure them.together when closed as to each other, and to permit them to be openedfrom each other and with means carried by one of said frames and adaptedto operate in connection with said means thereon for securing the framestogether and thereby to lock the same against and unlock the same formovement.

7. A fastener for straps, comprising two frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and onall of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and also having oneof said bars attached to the frame to be closed and secured thereto andto be freed. and opened therefrom, and the other frame, at one side oredge, connected to said strap-receiving frame and adapted to be openedtherefrom and closed in relation thereto, in combination with means onsaid frames relatively adapted to cooperate to secure them together whenclosed. as to each other, and to permit them to be opened from eachother.

8. A fastener for straps, comprising two frames, one having, at severalof its opposite sides or edges, bars and openings or slots, at and onall of which to loop and engage a strap therewith, and also having oneof said bars at one end hinged to said frame and at the other endtogether with the frame adapted for the bar to be engaged. ith anddisengaged from the frame and engaged held until released and the otherframe, at one side or edge, connected to said strap-receiving frame, andadapted to be opened. therefrom and closed in relation thereto, incombination with means on said frames relatively adapted to cooperate tosecure them together when closed as to each other, and to permit them tobe opened from each other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. DAVIDSON.

